Explosive joke-box.



G.- J. PETERSON.

EXPLOSIVE JOKE BOX.

APPLICATION IILED F513. 8, 1910.

Patented Mar.7, 1911.

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CHRISTEN J. lETERSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SOREN S. ADAMS, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

EXPLOSIVE JOKE-BOX.

Application filed February 8, 1910.

T '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CrnnsrnN J. PETER- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chi ago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosive J oke- Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel explosive joke box or receptacle, and has for its essential object to provide a comparatively simple and eifective mechanism for exploding a czp therein when its cover is slightly raised or partially retracted, it being understood that such movement of the cover tends to actuate the device for exploding the cap.

The invention consists in the features of construction of combination parts hereinafter described and claimed.

in the drawing, Figure 1, is a top view, looking into the device, the striker arm being adjacent the anvil; Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1, the striking arm being retracted; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation, the cover being partially raised and the striker arm retracted; Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3, the cover being in closed posi tion; and Fig. 5 is asimilar view, the cover being partially raised for permitting the striker arm to move into the position shown in Fig. 1.

This improved device is more especially intended to be suitably secured within a box or receptacle 6, which is preferably of attractive exterior finish and design, simulating a candy, cigarette box, etc, as desired. Within this explosive box or receptacle 6 is secured the noise-producing mechanism which, as indicated, comprises a swinging striker arm 7 having its rear end usually of reduced width, and provided with oppositely projecting studs 8 positioned within the openings in the upper and lower frame arms 9 and 10, forming in effect a pivotal mounting for the striker arm. The aforesaid frame arms 9 and 10 as shown are struck out from the elongated frame 11, which at its rear end is inturned at 12 and thence bent rearwardly as at 13, the last mentioned part having several. vertically disposed recesses 1 f, spaced apart a distance sufficient to permit the intervening body face 15 to be used as an anvil to engage and receive the end of the striker arm. Upon the inturned section 12 of the frame is formed a downwardly de- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. "2, 1911.

Serial No. 542,730.

pending finger 16 which serves to maintain the steel spring 17 or other suitable member in position alongside of, and adjacent to the frame body. The free outer ends 18 of said spring engage the frame body 11 and the inner end of the striker arm 7 respectively. Obviously, when the striker arm is in its normal retracted position, indicated in Fig. 2, the free ends of the spring will be held closely together. However, when the striker arm 7, is moved slightly forward so as to position it at an angle with respect to the steel spring, then the tension exerted thereupon will cause the striker arm to instantly and forcibly move and strike againstthe anvil 15.

Secured upon the interior of the explosive box or receptacle cover 19 and near its outer edge is an actuating member 20, provided as shown with several projecting teeth 21 and 22, the inner tooth 21 having preferably a substantially straight face or edge I The other projecting tooth 22 has an inner angular face or edge 2% for the purpose of moving the striker arm 7 off center, as the explosive box cover is closed, as indicated. in Fig. 5, the angular face 24 contracting the arm 7 when the lid is lowered, and by reason of its sloping surface forcing the end of the arm 7 engaged by the spring 17 to the opposite side of its pivotal center, whereby the tension of the spring tends to force the arm in the opposite directionfrom that in which it is being forced in Fig. 2. The straight face 22, however, engages the arm 7 after it has been moved a predetermined distance and arrests its movements. But when the lid is raised the face 23 will be brought out of engagement with the arm 7, and the arm will be forced by the action of the spring into the position shown in Fig. 1.

In use, the roll of caps 25 is placed within the body of the explosive box or receptacle and the free outer end 26 of the same is passed through the several vertical recesses 14, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it being understood that the face of the cap is p0- sitioned adjacent to the anvil 15 so that when the box cover 19 is slightly raised or retracted the member 20, by reason of its peculiar construction, will throw the striker arm 7 off center, causing the same to violently strike against the face of the anvil exploding the cap.

The striker arm, as shown in Fig. 2, is positioned at a dead center with respect to the spring, so that it will maintain this position irrespective of any auxiliary means until it is moved slightly forward, when the spring tension will cause the same to swing into position to strike the cap.

TVithout specifically limiting myself to the aforesaid construction, I claim:

1. In a box of the class described, the combination with a box body of an anvil secured therein and arranged to hold a cap, a hammer pivotally mounted within said box and comprising a relatively long end and a relatively short end, the path of travel of the long end when swung around its pivotal center being such as to bring it into engagement with the cap upon the anvil, a flat spring bent back upon itself, a member for securing the spring in place positioned at the bend therein, a member for holding one free end of the spring in fixed position, the other free end bearing when the hammer is in nonoperative position against the short end of the hammer, said end lying at one side of the pivot of the hammer whereby the long end of the hammer is maintained at the other side of the pivot, and means for moving the short end to the opposite side of the pivot, whereby pressure of the spring will force the long end into engagement with the cap, substantially as described.

2. In a box of the class described, the combination with a box body of an anvil secured therein and arranged to hold a cap, a hammer pivotally mounted within said box and comprising a relatively long end and a relatively short end, the path of travel of the long end when swung around its pivotal center being such as to bring it into engagement with the cap upon the anvil, a flat spring bent back upon itself, a member for securing the spring in place located at the bend therein, a member for holding one free end of the spring in fixed position, the other free end bearing when the hammer is in non-operative position against the short end of the hammer, said latter end lying at 7 one side of the pivotal center of the 11ammer whereby the long end of the hammer is maintained at or on the opposite side of the pivotal center, a flanged plate secured to the box cover, one of the flanges of said plate being provided with a recess, one side wall of the recess being formed on a-slope and the other being straight, the sloping side wall forcing the hammer when the cover is closed to bring the short end to the oppo= site side of the pivotal center, the flat face serving to hold the hammer in such thrown position until the lid is lifted, substantially as described.

CHRISTEN J. PETERSON. Witnesses VALKER BANNING, 7M. P. BOND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. G. 

